The history of learning assistance (e.g., courses, tutorials, and counseling) in U.S. senior colleges is traced, starting with the period 1830-1875. With the establishment of New York University in 1830 came a growth of liberal education over classical training and a new emphasis on instruction in English and preparatory education. When the 1862 Morrill Act established land-grant colleges, new courses increased the need for preparatory courses. Additional developments include: the founding of the College Entrance Examination Board in 1890 and a move to uniform college admission requirements; the need for greatly improved reading and writing skills with the development of humanities and science courses; emphasis on research and on the library as the headquarters of the scholar; the emergence of counseling and guidance programs; reading studies and the first reading tests for college students; the first survey of remedial assistance in 1929; the introduction of standardized tests for college students; special admissions for low income groups; and the growth of learning centers and developmental education. Also discussed are: surveys of remedial reading in the early 1940s; research on college assistance programs since the 1950s; and a current literature review of programs. (SW)